This article reveals more details about FreeStreamz Search which is considered to be a browser hijacker. In this article, you will also find detailed step-by-step instructions that will guide you through the removal process of all suspicious and potentially undesired files from your affected system.
FreeStreamz Search is a nasty website that affects popular web browsers by replacing their main settings. As a result, you start seeing its hoax search engine every time you open the affected browser. Even if it looks like a reliable searching service, this hijacker is primarily designed to spy on your online activities so it can use generated data records for the launch of aggressive targeted advertising campaigns.
Threat Summary
| Name | FreeStreamz |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable search enigne that suddenly starts to appear in your preferred web browser. |
| Symptoms | Your homepage, new tab page and search enigne could dislay a hijacker. Browser slowdowns could occur due to increased number of online ads. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss FreeStreamz. |
FreeStreamz Search – Spread and Impact
Being classified as a browser hijacker, FreeStreamz Search is a program that you have probably never installed by your will. As a typical potentially unwanted program, it is likely to be spread with the help of shady techniques that conceal its presence. Such techniques are known to be software bundling, corrupted web pages, fake software update notifications, and other.
Some of the most preferred web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera and Safari could be affected by FreeStreamz Search hijacker.
Browser hijackers like FreeStreamz Search are hoax search engines that aim to spy on your online behavior so they can afterward make you a target of aggressive advertising campaigns.
In order to force you into using its deceptive services, the hijacker alters some essential browser settings without your knowledge. As a result of applied changes, you start seeing its main page to load as start page, new tab page and default search engine.
One of the purposes of this hoax search engine is data harvesting. For the realization of this purpose, the hijacker utilizes different tracking technologies such as cookies, web beacons, javascript, etc.
So every next website you visit, search query you enter, ad you click, the information you enter will be automatically sent to FreeStreamz Search’s servers. As you may guess, such a nasty side effect is misused by hijacker’s owners. Once they know what your interests are, they could easily make you a target of their aggressive advertising campaigns.
The moment they launch the campaigns your browsing sessions could be flooded by numerous ads of all types – pop-ups, pop-unders, banners, in-text links, images, videos, fake notification windows, etc. Since these ads may load on every website you visit, your browser could become sluggish or completely unresponsive sometimes. Pretty annoying, right?
Considering all issues that occur as a result of having FreeStreamz Search in your browser we recommend you to follow our thorough removal guide and get rid of all harmful files and objects installed by the hijacker.
How to Remove FreeStreamz Search Hijacker
In order to remove FreeStreamz Search hijacker along with all associated files that enable its appearance in the browser, you should complete several removal steps. In the guide below you will find all removal steps in their precise order. You could choose between manual and automatic removal approaches. In order to fully get rid of this particular undesired program and strengthen the security of your device we recommend you to combine the steps. Have in mind that installed files associated with this hijacker may be detected with names different than FreeStreamz Search.
In case you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us at our email.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove FreeStreamz from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of FreeStreamz from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove FreeStreamz from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase FreeStreamz from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall FreeStreamz from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove FreeStreamz from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate FreeStreamz from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove FreeStreamz from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove FreeStreamz
Step 2: Uninstall FreeStreamz and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by FreeStreamz on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by FreeStreamz there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of FreeStreamz from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall FreeStreamz and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove FreeStreamz via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove FreeStreamz files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as FreeStreamz, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove FreeStreamz from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase FreeStreamz from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall FreeStreamz from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove FreeStreamz from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the FreeStreamz will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate FreeStreamz from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
